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SECULAR AUTHORITY: TO WHAT EXTENT IT SHOULD BE OBEYED
Martin Luther
LETTER OF DEDICATION
To the Illustrious, High-born Prince and Lord, John, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave of Thuringia,
Margrave of Meissen, My Gracious Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ. Again, illustrious, highborn prince, gracious lord, necessity is laid
upon me, and the entreaties of many, and above all your grace’s wishes impel me, to write
concerning the secular authorities and the sword they bear; how it should be used in a Christian
manner and in how far men are bound to obey it. For men are perplexed by the word of Christ
in Matthew 5:25 , “Thou shalt not resist evil, but agree with thine adversary; and if any man
take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also,” and Romans 12:19 , “Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, saith the Lord.”
These very texts Prince Volusian of old quoted against Saint Augustine, f348 and charged
Christianity with permitting the wicked to do evil and with being incompatible with the power
of the sword.
The sophists in the universities also were perplexed by these texts, because they could not
reconcile the two spheres. In order not to make heathen of the princes, they taught that these
sayings of Christ are not precepts but counsels of perfection. Thus Christ had to become a liar
and be in error, in order that the princes might continue in honor. For they could not exalt the
princes without putting down Christ, — wretched blind sophists that they are. And thus their
poisonous error has spread through the whole world, so that every one regards these teachings
of Christ as counsels of perfection, and not as precepts binding on all Christians alike.
It has gone so far that they have permitted the imperfect duty of the sword and of secular
authority not only to the perfect class of bishops, but even to the pope, whose rank is the most
perfect of all; nay, they have ascribed it to no one on earth so completely as to him. So
thoroughly has the devil taken possession of the sophists and of the universities, that they
themselves do not know what and how they speak or teach.
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I hope, however, to instruct the princes and the secular authorities in such a way that they shall
remain Christians and that Christ shall remain Lord, yet so that Christ’s commandments need
not for their sake be changed into counsels.
This will I do as a dutiful service to your princely grace, for the profiting of every one who may
need it, and to the praise and glory of Christ our Lord.
I commend your princely grace with all your kin to the grace of God. May He mercifully have
you in His keeping. Amen.
Your Princely Grace’s obedient servant, MARTIN LUTHER.
Wittenberg, New Year’s Day, 1523.
THE TREATISE
Formerly I addressed a booklet to the German nobility, setting forth their Christian office and
functions. But how they have carried out my suggestions is very plain to see. Hence I must
change my tactics and write them, this time, what they should omit and not do. I fear this
writing will have just as little effect on them as the former one had, — they will by all means
remain princes and by no means become Christians. For God Almighty has made our rulers
mad. They actually think they have the power to do and command their subjects to do,
whatever they please. And the subjects are led astray and believe they are bound to obey them
in everything. It has gone so far that the rulers have ordered the people to put away books, and
to believe and keep what they prescribe. In this way they presumptuously set themselves in
God’s place, lord it over men’s conscience and faith, and put the Holy Spirit to school according
to their mad brains. They let it be known, at the same time, that they are not to be
contradicted, but called gracious lords into the bargain.
They issue public proclamations, saying that this is the emperor’s command and they desire to
be Christian and obedient princes, as though they were in earnest about it and one did not see
the knave behind the mask. If the emperor took a castle or a city from them or commanded
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some other injustice, we should see how quickly they would find themselves obliged to resist
the emperor and disobey him.
But when it comes to fleecing the poor and to doing what they please with God’s Word, it must
be called obedience to the imperial command. Such people were formerly called knaves, now
they must be addressed as Christian and loyal princes. Yet they will not permit any one to
appear before them for a hearing or to defend himself, no matter how humbly he may petition.
If the emperor or any one else should do the same to them they would regard it as most
intolerable. These are the princes who rule the empire in German lands today; hence also there
must needs be such prosperity in all lands, as we see.
Because the raving of such fools tends to the suppression of Christian faith, the denying of the
divine Word, and the blaspheming of the divine Majesty, I can and will no longer look upon my
ungracious lords and angry nobles, but must resist them at least with words. And since I have
not been in terror of their idol, the pope, who threatens to deprive me of soul and of heaven, I
must show that I am not in terror of his scales and bubbles f353 which threaten to deprive me
of body and of earth. God grant that they may have to rage until grey habits perish, and that we
die not of their threatenings. Amen.
I. We must firmly establish secular law and the sword, that no one may doubt that it is in the
world by God’s will and ordinance. The passages which establish this are the following: Romans
13:1 , “Let every soul be subject to power and authority, for there is no power but from God.
The power that is everywhere is ordained of God. He then who resists the power resists God’s
ordinance. But he who resists God’s ordinance shall bring himself under condemnation.”
Likewise, 1 Peter 2:13 , “Be subject to every kind of human ordinance, whether to the king as
supreme, or to the governors, as to those sent of Him for the punishing of the evil and for the
reward of the good.”
This penal law existed from the beginning of the world. For when Cain slew his brother he was
in such great terror of being in turn killed that God specially forbade it and suspended the
sword for his sake, — and no one was to slay him. ( Genesis 4:14 f .) He would not have had
this fear if he had not seen and heard from Adam that murderers should be slain.
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Moreover God re-established and confirmed it after the Flood in unmistakable terms when He
said, “Whoso sheds man’s blood, his blood shall be shed again by man.” ( Genesis 9:6 ) This
cannot be understood as a plague and punishment of God upon murderers; for many
murderers who repent or are pardoned continue to live, and die by other means than the
sword. But it is said of the right of the sword, that a murderer is guilty of death and should in
justice be slain by the sword. Though justice be hindered or the sword be tardy, so that the
murderer dies a natural death, the Scripture is not on that account false when it says, “Whoso
sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” For it is men’s fault or merit that this
law commanded of God is not carried out; even as other commandments of God are broken.
Afterward it was also confirmed by the law of Moses, Exodus 21:24 , “If a man presumptuously
kill thou shalt take him from My altar that he may die.” And again, in the same place, “A life for
a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a foot for a foot, a hand for a hand, a wound for a
wound, a bruise for a bruise.” ( Exodus 21:23 ff .) Christ also confirms it when He says to Peter
in the garden, “He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword,” ( Matthew 26:52 ) which is
to be interpreted like Genesis ix, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood,” etc. Doubtless Christ refers in
these words to that passage and incorporates and confirms it in them. John Baptist teaches the
same. When the soldiers asked him what they should do, he answered, “Do injustice or
violence to no one, and be content with your wages.” ( Luke 3:14 ) If the sword were not
divinely appointed he should have commanded them to cease being soldiers, since he was to
perfect the people and direct them in a proper Christian way. Hence it is sufficiently clear and
certain that it is God’s will that the sword and secular law be used for the punishment of the
wicked and the protection of the upright. ( 1 Peter 2:14 ) II. There seems to be a powerful
argument on the other side. (Nonresistance) Christ says, Matthew 5:38 , “Ye have heard that it
was said to them of old: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That a man
shall not resist evil, but if any one strikes thee upon the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
and whoever will go to law with thee to take thy coat, let him have the cloak also, and whoever
forces thee a mile, with him go two miles.” Likewise Paul, Romans 12:19 , “Dearly beloved,
defend not yourselves, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will
repay saith the Lord.” Likewise Matthew 5:44 , “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate
you.”
And 1 Peter 3:9 , “Let no one repay evil with evil, nor railing with railing,” etc. These and the
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like passages truly would make it appear as though in the New Testament there should be no
secular sword among Christians.
Hence the sophists also say that Christ has abolished Moses’ law; of such commandments they
make counsels for the perfect, and divide Christian teaching and Christians into two classes.
One part they call the perfect, and assign to it such counsels. To the other, the imperfect, they
assign the commandments. This they do out of sheer perversity and caprice, without any
scriptural basis. They do not see that in the same passage Christ lays such stress on His teaching
that He is unwilling to have the least word of it set aside, ( Matthew 5:19 ) and condemns to
hell those who do not love their enemies. ( Matthew 5:25 ff .) Therefore we must interpret
these passages differently, so that Christ’s words may apply to all alike whether they be
“perfect” or “imperfect.” For perfection and imperfection consist not in works and do not
establish a distinct external order among Christians; but they exist in the heart, in faith and
love, so that they who believe and love the most are the perfect ones, whether outwardly they
be male or female, prince or peasant, monk or layman. For love and faith produce no sects or
outward differences. f356 III. We must divide all the children of Adam into two classes; the first
belong to the kingdom of God, the second to the kingdom of the world.
Those belonging to the kingdom of God are all true believers in Christ and are subject to Christ.
For Christ is the King and Lord in the kingdom of God, as the second Psalm and all the Scriptures
say. ( Psalm 2:6 ) For this reason He came into the world, that He might begin God’s kingdom
and establish it in the world. Therefore He says before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of the world,
but whoever is of the truth hears My voice”; ( John 18:36 f .) and continually in the Gospel He
refers to the kingdom of God and says, “Amend your ways, the kingdom of God is at hand.” (
Matthew 3:2 ) Likewise, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” ( Matthew 6:33
) He also calls the Gospel, a Gospel of the kingdom, for the reason that it teaches, governs,
and contains God’s kingdom.
Now observe, these people need no secular sword or law. And if all the world were composed
of real Christians, that is, true believers, no prince, king, lord, sword, or law would be needed.
For what were the use of them, since Christians have in their hearts the Holy Spirit, who
instructs them and causes them to wrong no one, to love every one, willingly and cheerfully to
suffer injustice and even death from every one. Where every wrong is suffered and every right
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is done, no quarrel, strife, trial, judge, penalty, law or sword is needed. Therefore, it is not
possible for the secular sword and law to find any work to do among Christians, since of
themselves they do much more than its laws and doctrines can demand. Just as Paul says in 1
Timothy 1:19 , “The law is not given for the righteous, but for the unrighteous.”
Why is this? Because the righteous does of himself all and more than all that all the laws
demand. But the unrighteous do nothing that the law demands, therefore they need the law to
instruct, constrain, and compel them to do what is good. A good tree does not need any
teaching or law to bear good fruit, its nature causes it to bear according to its kind without any
law and teaching. ( Matthew 7:18 ) A man would be a fool to make a book of laws and statutes
telling an apple tree how to bear apples and not thorns, when it is able by its own nature to do
this better than man with all his books can define and direct. Just so, by the Spirit and by faith
all Christians are throughout inclined to do well and keep the law, much more than any one can
teach them with all the laws, and need so far as they are concerned no commandments nor
law.
You ask, Why then did God give to all men so many commandments, and why did Christ teach
in the Gospel so many things to be done? Concerning this I have written much in the Postil and
elsewhere. To put it as briefly as possible here, Paul says that the law is given for the sake of the
unrighteous, that is, that those who are not Christians may through the law be externally
restrained from evil deeds, as we shall hear later. ( Timothy 1:9) Since, however, no one is by
nature Christian or pious, but every one sinful and evil, God places the restraints of the law
upon them all, so that they may not dare give rein to their desires and commit outward, wicked
deeds. In addition, St. Paul gives the law another function in Romans vii ( Romans 7:7 ) and
Galatians 3:( Galatians 3:19 ,24 ) It is to teach men to recognize sin, that they may be made
humble unto grace and unto faith in Christ. Christ also does this here, when He teaches in
Matthew 5:39
that we should not resist evil, and thereby glorifies the law and teaches how a
real Christian ought to be and must be disposed, as we shall hear further on.
IV. All who are not Christians belong to the kingdom of the world and are under the law. Since
few believe and still fewer live a Christian life, do not resist the evil, and themselves do no evil,
God has provided for non- Christians a different government outside the Christian estate and
God’s kingdom, and has subjected them to the sword, so that, even though they would do so,
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they cannot practice their wickedness, and that, if they do, they may not do it without fear nor
in peace and prosperity. Even so a wild, savage beast is fastened with chains and bands, so that
it cannot bite and tear as is its wont, although it gladly would do so; whereas a tame and gentle
beast does not require this, but without any chains and bands is nevertheless harmless. If it
were not so, seeing that the whole world is evil and that among thousands there is scarcely one
true Christian, men would devour one another, and no one could preserve wife and child,
support himself and serve God; and thus the world would be reduced to chaos. For this reason
God has ordained the two governments; the spiritual, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ
makes Christians and pious people, and the secular, which restrains the unchristian and wicked
so that they must needs keep the peace outwardly, even against their will. So Paul interprets
the secular sword, Romans 13:3 , and says it is not a terror to good works, but to the evil. And
Peter says it is for the punishment of evil doers. ( Peter 2:14) If any one attempted to rule the
world by the Gospel, and put aside all secular law and the secular sword, on the plea that all are
baptised and Christian, and that according to the Gospel, there is to be among them neither law
nor sword, nor necessity for either, pray, what would happen? (Secular Government
Indispensable) He would loose the bands and chains of the wild and savage beasts, and let
them tear and mangle every one, and at the same time say they were quite tame and gentle
creatures; but I would have the proof in my wounds. Just so would the wicked under the name
of Christian abuse this freedom of the Gospel, carry on their knavery, and say that they were
Christians subject neither to law nor sword, as some are already raving and ranting.
To such an one we must say, It is indeed true that Christians, so far as they themselves are
concerned, are subject to neither law nor sword and need neither; but first take heed and fill
the world with real Christians before ruling it in a Christian and evangelical manner. This you
will never accomplish; for the world and the masses are and always will be unchristian,
although they are all baptised and are nominally Christian.
Christians, however, are few and far between, as the saying is. Therefore it is out of the
question that there should be a common Christian government over the whole world, nay even
over one land or company of people, since the wicked always outnumber the good. Hence a
man who would venture to govern an entire country or the world with the Gospel would be like
a shepherd who should place in one fold wolves, lions, eagles, and sheep together and let them
freely mingle with one another and say, Help yourselves, and be good and peaceful among
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yourselves; the fold is open, there is plenty of food; have no fear of dogs and clubs. The sheep,
forsooth, would keep the peace and would allow themselves to be fed and governed in peace,
but they would not live long; nor would any beast keep from molesting another.
For this reason these two kingdoms must be sharply distinguished, and both be permitted to
remain; the one to produce piety, the other to bring about external peace and prevent evil
deeds; neither is sufficient in the world without the other. For no one can become pious before
God by means of the secular government, without Christ’s spiritual rule. Hence Christ’s rule
does not extend over all, but Christians are always in the minority and are in the midst of nonChristians. Where there is only secular rule or law, there, of necessity, is sheer hypocrisy,
though the commandments be God’s very own. Without the Holy Spirit in the heart no one
becomes really pious, he may do as fine works as he will. Where, on the other hand, the
spiritual government rules alone over land and people, there evil is given free rein and the door
is opened for every kind of knavery; for the natural world cannot receive or comprehend
spiritual things.
You see the purpose of Christ’s words which we quoted above from Matthew 5:39
They mean
that Christians shall not go to law nor use the secular sword among themselves. In reality He
says it only to His dear Christians. They alone also accept it and act accordingly, nor do they
make counsels of it, as the sophists do, but are so inclined in their heart, through the Spirit, that
they do evil to no one and willingly endure evil at every one’s hands. If the whole world were
Christian, all these words would apply to it and it would keep them. Since, however, it is
unchristian the words do not apply to it, nor does it keep them, but is under another rule in
which those who are not Christians are under external constraint and are forced to keep the
peace and do what is good.
For this reason Christ did not wield the sword nor give it a place in His kingdom; for He is a King
over Christians and rules by His Holy Spirit alone, without law. And although He acknowledged
the sword, He nevertheless did not use it; for it is of no use in His kingdom, in which are none
but the pious. Hence David of old dared not build the temple, because he had shed much blood
and had borne the sword; not that he had done wrong thereby, but because he could not be a
type of Christ, who without the sword was to have a kingdom of peace. ( 2 Samuel 7:5 ff .) It
must be built by Solomon, whose name means “Frederick” or “peaceful,” who had a peaceful
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kingdom, by which the truly peaceful kingdom of Christ, the real Frederick and Solomon, could
be represented. ( 1 Kings 5:17 ff .)
In like manner, during the entire building of the temple not the sound of a tool was heard, as
the text says; ( 1 Kings 6:7 ) all for this reason, that Christ, without constraint and force,
without law and the sword, was to have a people who serve Him freely.
This is what the prophets mean in <19B003> Psalm 110:3 , “Thy people shall be willing”; and in
Isaiah 11:9 , “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain”; and in Isaiah 2:4 ,
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and no one
shall lift up the sword against another, neither shall they busy themselves in war anymore,” etc.
Whoever would apply these and similar passages wherever Christ’s name is professed, would
entirely pervert the Scriptures; for they are spoken only of true Christians, who really do this
among themselves.
V. But perhaps you will say, Since Christians do not need the secular sword and the law, why
does Paul say to all Christians, in Romans 13:1 , “Let all souls be subject to power and
authority”? And St. Peter says, “Be subject to every human ordinance,” etc., as quoted above. (
1 Peter 2:13 ) I answer, as I have said, that Christians, among themselves and by and for
themselves, need no law or sword, since it is neither necessary nor profitable for them. Since,
however, a true Christian lives and labors on earth not for himself, but for his neighbor,
therefore the whole spirit of his life impels him to do even that which he need not do, but
which is profitable and necessary for his neighbor. Because the sword is a very great benefit
and necessary to the whole world, to preserve peace, to punish sin and to prevent evil, he
submits most willingly to the rule of the sword, pays tax, honors those in authority, serves,
helps, and does all he can to further the government, that it may be sustained and held in
honor and fear.
Although he needs none of these things for himself and it is not necessary for him to do them,
yet he considers what is for the good and profit of others, as Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:21
He
serves the State as he performs all other works of love, which he himself does not need. He
visits the sick, not that he may be made well; feeds no one because he himself needs food: so
he also serves the State not because he needs it, but because others need it, — that they may
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be protected and that the wicked may not become worse. He loses nothing by this, and such
service in no way harms him, and yet it is of great profit to the world. If he did not do it, he
would be acting not as a Christian but contrary even to love, and would also be setting a bad
example to others, who like him would not submit to authority, though they were no Christians.
In this way the Gospel would be brought into disrepute, as though it taught rebellion and made
self-willed people, unwilling to benefit or serve any one, when in reality it makes a Christian the
servant of every one. Thus in Matthew 17:27 , Christ gave the tribute money that He might not
offend them, although He did not need to do it.
Thus you observe in the words of Christ quoted above from Matthew 5:39
that He indeed
teaches that Christians among themselves should have no secular sword nor law. He does not,
however, forbid one to serve and obey those who have the secular sword and the law; much
rather, since you have no need of them and are not to have them, are you to serve those who
have not progressed so far as you and still need them. Although you do not need to have your
enemy punished, your weak neighbor does. You should help him, that he may have peace and
that his enemy may be curbed; which is not possible unless power and authority are honored
and feared. Christ does not say, “Thou shalt not serve the State or be subject to it,” but “Thou
shalt not resist evil.” As though He said, “Take heed that you bear everything, so that you may
not need the State to help and serve you and be of profit to you, but that you may on the other
hand, help, serve, and be of profit and use to it. I would have you to be far too exalted and
noble to have any need of it, but it should have need of you.”
VI. You ask whether a Christian, also, may bear the secular sword and punish the wicked, since
Christ’s words, “Thou shalt not resist the evil,” are so clear and definite that the sophists have
had to make a counsel of them. I answer, You have now heard two propositions. The one is,
that the sword can have no place among Christians, therefore you cannot bear it among and
against Christians, who do not need it. The question, therefore, must be directed to the other
side, to the non-Christians, whether as a Christian you may there bear it. Here the other
proposition applies, that you are under obligation to serve and further the sword by whatever
means you can, with body, soul, honor or goods. For it is nothing that you need, but something
quite useful and profitable for the whole world and for your neighbor. Therefore, should you
see that there is a lack of hangmen, beadles, judges, lords, or princes, and find that you are
qualified, you should offer your services and seek the place, that necessary government may by
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no means be despised and become inefficient or perish. For the world cannot and dare not
dispense with it.
The reason you should do this is, that in this case you would enter entirely into the service and
work of others, which benefited neither yourself nor your property nor your character, but only
your neighbor and others; and you would do it not to avenge yourself or to recompense evil for
evil, but for the good of your neighbor and for the maintenance of the safety and peace of
others. As concerns yourself, you would abide by the Gospel and govern yourself according to
Christ’s word, gladly turning the other cheek and letting the mantle go with the coat, when the
matter concerned you and your cause. ( Matthew 5:39 ,40 ) In this way, then, things are well
balanced, and you satisfy at the same time God’s kingdom inwardly and the kingdom of the
world outwardly, at the same time suffer evil and injustice and yet punish evil and injustice, at
the same time do not resist evil and yet resist it. For in the one case you consider yourself and
what is yours, in the other you consider your neighbor and what is his. In what concerns you
and yours, you govern yourself by the Gospel and suffer injustice for yourself as a true
Christian; in what concerns others and belongs to them, you govern yourself according to love
and suffer no injustice for your neighbor’s sake; this the Gospel does not forbid, but rather
commands in another place.
In this way all the saints wielded the sword from the beginning of the world: Adam and his
descendants; ( Genesis 14:15 ) Abraham when he rescued Lot, his brother’s son, and smote the
four kings, though he was a thoroughly evangelical man; Samuel, the holy prophet, slew King
Agag, and Elijah the prophets of Baal. ( 1 Samuel 15:33 ) So did Moses, Joshua, the children of
Israel, Samson, David, and all the kings and princes in the Old Testament. ( 1 Kings 18:40 ) In
the same way did Daniel and his associates, Ananias, Asarias and Misael, in Babylon; in the
same manner did Joseph in Egypt, and so on.
Should any one advance the argument, that the Old Testament is abolished and avails no more,
and that therefore such examples cannot be set before Christians, I answer, That is not correct.
For St. Paul says in Corinthians 10:3, “They did all eat the same spiritual meat as we, and did
drink the same spiritual drink from the rock, which is Christ”; that is, they have had the same
spirit and faith in Christ as we and were Christians as well as we are. Therefore, wherein they
did right, all Christians do right, from the beginning of the world unto the end. For time and
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external circumstances matter not among Christians. Neither is it true that the Old Testament
was abolished in such a way that it need not be kept, or that it would be wrong for any one to
keep it in full, as St. Jerome and many more erred in thinking. It is indeed abolished in the sense
that we are free to keep it or not to keep it, and it is no longer necessary to keep it on penalty
of one’s soul, as was formerly the case.
For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:19
and Galatians 6:15 , that neither uncircumcision nor
circumcision avails anything, but a new creature in Christ; that is, it is not sin to be
uncircumcised, as the Jews thought, nor is it sin to be circumcised, as the heathen thought, but
either is right and permissible for him who does not think he will be saved by so doing. This is
true also of all other parts of the Old Testament; it is not wrong to omit them nor wrong to do
them, but all is permissible and good, to do and to leave undone. Nay, if they were necessary or
profitable to one’s fellowman for his salvation, it would be necessary to keep them all; for every
one is under obligation to do what is for his neighbor’s good, whether it be Old or New
Testament, Jewish or heathen, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12:13 , for love pervades all and
transcends all, considers only what is for the profit of others, and does not ask whether it is old
or new. Hence, the precedents for the use of the sword also are matters of freedom, and you
may follow them or not, but where you see that your neighbor needs it, there love contrains
you so that you must needs do what otherwise would be optional and unnecessary for you to
do or to leave undone. Only do not suppose that you will grow pious or be saved thereby, as
the Jews presumed to be saved by their works, but leave this to faith, which without works
makes you a new creature.
To prove our position also by the New Testament, the testimony of John Baptist in Luke 3:14
cannot be shaken on this point. It was his work to point to Christ, to witness for Him, and to
teach about Him; and the teaching of the man who was to prepare a people for Christ and lead
them to Him, has of necessity to be purely New Testament and evangelical. And he endorses
the work of the soldiers and says they should be content with their wages. If it had been an
unchristian thing to bear the sword, he ought to have censured them for it and told them to
abandon both wages and sword, or he would not have taught them the Christian estate
correctly. So also, when St. Peter in Acts 10:34
preached Christ to Cornelius, he did not tell him
to abandon his work, which he would have had to do if it had prevented Cornelius from being a
Christian. Moreover, before he was baptised, the Holy Ghost came upon him. St. Luke also
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lauds him as a pious man previous to Peter’s sermon, and does not find fault with him because
he was a captain of soldiers and under a heathen emperor. ( Acts 10:44 ) What the Holy Ghost
permitted to remain and did not censure in Cornelius’ case, it is meet that we too should permit
and not censure.
A similar case is that of the Ethiopian captain, the eunuch, in Acts 8:30 , whom Philip the
evangelist converted and baptised and permitted to remain in his work and to return home
again, although without bearing the sword he could not possibly have been so high an official
under the queen in Ethiopia. It was the same with the governor in Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, in
Acts 13:12 , whom St. Paul converted, and yet permitted to remain governor among heathen
and over heathen. Many holy martyrs did the same, who were obedient to heathen Roman
emperors, and went under them into battle, and doubtless also slew people, for the sake of
preserving peace; as is written of St. Maurice, St. Achacius, St. Gereon, and many others under
the emperor Julian. f363 Beyond these, we have the clear, definite statement of St. Paul in
Romans 13:1 , where he says, “The powers that be are ordained of God”; and again, “The
power does not bear the sword in vain, but is the minister of God for thy good, an avenger unto
him that doeth evil.” ( Romans 13:4 ) Be not so wicked, my friend, as to say, A Christian may
not do that which is God’s peculiar work, ordinance and creation. Else you must also say, A
Christian must not eat, drink or be married, for these are also God’s work and ordinance. If it is
God’s work and creation, it is good, and so good that every one can use it in a Christian and
saving way, as Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:4 , “Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
rejected by the believing and those who know the truth.”
Among “every creature of God” you must reckon not simply food and drink, clothes and shoes,
but also government, citizenship, protection and administration of justice.
In short, since St. Paul here says the power is God’s servant, we must admit that it is to be
exercised not only by the heathen, but by all men. ( Romans 13:1 ) What else does it mean
when it is said it is God’s servant except that the power is by its very nature such that one may
serve God by it? Now, it should be quite unchristian to say that there is any service of God in
which a Christian ought not and dare not take part, when such a service belongs to no one so
much as to Christians. It would indeed be good and profitable if all princes were real and good
Christians, for the sword and the government, as a special service of God, belong of right to
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Christians, more than to all other men on earth. Therefore you should cherish the sword or the
government, even as the state of matrimony, or husbandry, or any other handiwork which God
has instituted. As a man can serve God in the state of matrimony, in husbandry, or at a trade,
for the benefit of his fellowman, and must serve Him if necessity demand; just so he can also
serve God in the State and should serve Him there, if the necessities of his neighbor demand it;
for the State is God’s servant and workman to punish the evil and protect the good. Still it may
also be omitted if there is no need for it, just as men are free not to marry and not to farm if
there should be no need of marrying and farming.
You ask, Why did not Christ and the apostles bear the sword? Tell me, Why did He not also take
a wife, or become a cobbler or a tailor? If an occupation or office is not good because Christ
Himself did not occupy it, what would become of all occupations and offices, with the exception
of the ministry which alone He exercised? Christ fulfilled His own office and vocation, but
thereby did not reject any other. It was not meet that He should bear the sword, for He was to
bear only that office by which His kingdom is governed and which properly serves His kingdom.
Now it does not concern His kingdom that He should be a married man, a cobbler, a tailor, a
farmer, a prince, a hangman or a beadle, neither is the sword or secular law of any concern, but
only God’s Word and Spirit, by which His people are inwardly governed. This office which He
exercised then, and still exercises, always bestows God’s Word and Spirit; and in this office the
apostles and all spiritual rulers must needs follow Him. For they are kept so busily employed
with the spiritual sword, the Word of God, in fulfilling this their calling, that they must indeed
neglect the worldly sword, and leave it to those who do not have to preach; although it is not
contrary to their calling to use it, as I have said. For every one must attend to his own calling
and work.
Therefore, even though Christ did not bear the sword nor prescribe it, it is sufficient that He did
not forbid or abolish it, but rather endorsed it; just as it is sufficient that He did not abolish the
state of matrimony, but endorsed it, though He Himself took no wife and gave no
commandment concerning it. He had to identify Himself throughout with the occupation and
work which properly and entirely served the furtherance of His kingdom, so that no occasion
and binding example might be made of it, to teach and believe that the kingdom of God cannot
exist without matrimony and the sword and such externals (since Christ’s examples are
binding), when it is only by God’s Word and Spirit that it does exist. This was and had to be
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Christ’s peculiar work as the supreme King in this kingdom. Since, however, not all Christians
have this same office, though innately it belongs to them, it is meet that they should have some
other, external one, by which God may also be served.
From all this we see what is the true meaning of Christ’s words in Matthew 5:39 , “Resist not
evil,” etc. It is this, that a Christian should be so disposed that he will suffer every evil and
injustice, not avenge himself nor bring suit in court, and in nothing make use of secular power
and law for himself. For others, however, he may and should seek vengeance, justice,
protection and help, and do what he can toward this. Likewise, the State should, either of itself
or through the instigation of others, help and protect him without complaint, application or
instigation on his part. When the State does not do this, he ought to permit himself to be
robbed and despoiled, and not resist the evil, as Christ’s words say.
Be quite certain, also, that this teaching of Christ is not a counsel of perfection, as our sophists
blasphemously and falsely say, but a universal, strict command for all Christians. Then you will
learn that all those who avenge themselves or go to law and wrangle in the courts over their
property and honor are nothing but heathen masquerading under the name of Christians. It
cannot be otherwise, I tell you. Do not look to the multitude and to the common practice, for,
have no doubt, there are few Christians on earth; and God’s Word is something very different
from the common practice. f364 You see that Christ does not abolish the law when He says,
“You have heard that it was said to them of old:
An eye for an eye; but I say unto you that ye resist not evil,” etc. ( Matthew 5:38 ) But He
expounds the meaning of the law as it is to be understood, as though He would say, You Jews
consider it right and good before God if you recover by law what belongs to you, and you rely
on what Moses said, An eye for an eye, etc. I say unto you, however, that Moses gave such a
law for the wicked, who do not belong to God’s kingdom, that they might not avenge
themselves or do worse things, but be compelled by such outward law to desist from evil-doing,
in order that by outward law and rule they might be kept under authority. But you should so
conduct yourselves as not to need or invoke such a law. Although the secular authority must
have such a law by which to judge unbelievers, and although you yourselves might use it to
judge others, still you should not invoke or use it for yourselves and in your own affairs. You
have the kingdom of heaven; therefore you should leave the kingdom of earth to any one who
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wants to take it.
You see, then, Christ’s words do not mean that He abolishes Moses’ law, or prohibits secular
power, but He excepts His own. They are not to use them for themselves, but to leave them to
unbelievers, whom indeed they may serve with the law. For unbelievers are not Christians; and
no one can be compelled to be a Christian. But that Christ’s words apply only to His own is
evident, since He afterward says they should love their enemies and be perfect like their
heavenly Father. ( Matthew 5:44 ,48 ) He, however, who loves his enemies lets the law alone
and does not use it to demand an eye for an eye. Neither does he oppose the non-Christians
who do not love their enemies and wish to use the law; nay, he lends his help that these laws
may restrain the wicked from doing worse.
In this way, I take it, the word of Christ is reconciled with the passages which establish the
sword, so that this is the meaning: No Christian shall wield or invoke the sword for himself and
for his cause; but for another he can and ought to wield and invoke it, so that wickedness may
be hindered and godliness defended. Even as the Lord says, in the same passage, A Christian
shall not swear, but let his word be Yea, yea; Nay, nay, — that is, for himself and of his own
choice and desire, he should not swear. ( Matthew 5:34 ff .) When, however, need, welfare and
salvation, or God’s honor demand, he should swear; thus he uses the forbidden oath to serve
another, just as he uses the forbidden sword in another’s service; as Christ and Paul often
swore to make their teaching and testimony valuable and credible to others, as men do and
have a right to do in covenants and compacts, of which Psalm 63:11
says, “They shall be
praised who swear by His name.”
But you ask further, whether the beadles, hangmen, jurists, advocates, and their ilk, can also be
Christians and in a state of salvation. I answer: If the State and its sword are a divine service, as
was proved above, that which the State needs in order to wield the sword must also be a divine
service.
There must be those who arrest, accuse, slay and destroy the wicked, and protect, acquit,
defend and save the good. Therefore, when such duties are performed, not with the intention
of seeking one’s own ends, but only of helping to maintain the laws and the State, so that the
wicked may be restrained, there is no peril in them and they may be followed like any other
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pursuit and be used as one’s means of support. For, as was said, love of neighbor seeks not its
own, considers not how great or how small, but how profitable and how needful for neighbor
or community the works are. ( Corinthians 13:5) You ask, Why may I not use the sword for
myself and for my own cause, with the intention by so doing not of seeking my own interest,
but the punishment of evil? I answer, Such a miracle is not impossible, but quite unusual and
hazardous, where there is such affluence of the Spirit it may be done, for so we read of Samson
in Judges 15:11 , that he said, “I have done unto them as they did unto me”; yet, on the
contrary, Proverbs 24:29
says, “Say not, I will do unto him as he has done unto me”; and
Proverbs 20:22 , “Say not thou, I will recompense evil.” For Samson was called of God to harass
the Philistines and deliver the children of Israel. Though he used them as an occasion to
advance his own cause, still he did not do so to avenge himself or to seek his own interests, but
to serve others and to punish the Philistines. No one but a real Christian and one who is full of
the Spirit will follow this example. If reason also should follow this example, it would indeed
pretend not to be seeking its own, but this would be untrue. It cannot be done without grace.
Therefore, first become like Samson, and then you can also do as Samson did.
PART TWO HOW FAR SECULAR AUTHORITY EXTENDS We come now to the main part of this
treatise. For as we have learned that there must be temporal authority on earth, and how it is
to be employed in a Christian and salutary way, we must now learn how far its arm extends and
how far its hand reaches, lest it extend too far and encroach upon God’s kingdom and rule. And
it is very necessary to know this, since where it is given too wide a scope, intolerable and
terrible injury follows; and, on the other hand, it cannot be too much restricted without
working injury. In the latter case the punishment is too light; in the former, too severe. It is
more tolerable, however, to err on the latter side and punish too little; since it always is better
to let a knave live than to kill a good man, for the world will still have knaves, and must have
them, but of good men there are few.
In the first place, it must be noted that the two classes of Adam’s children, the one in God’s
kingdom under Christ, the other in the kingdom of the world under the State, have two kinds of
laws, as was said above. Every kingdom must have its own laws and regulations, and without
law no kingdom or government can exist, as daily experience sufficiently proves.
Worldly government has laws which extend no farther than to life and property and what is
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external upon earth. For over the soul God can and will let no one rule but Himself. Therefore,
where temporal power presumes to prescribe laws for the soul, it encroaches upon God’s
government and only misleads and destroys the souls. We desire to make this so clear that
every one shall grasp it, and that our junkers, the princes and bishops, may see what fools they
are when they seek to coerce the people with their laws and commandments into believing one
thing or another.
When a man-made law is imposed upon the soul, in order to make it believe this or that, as that
man prescribes, there is certainly no word of God for it. If there is no word of God for it, it is
uncertain whether God will have it so, for we cannot be certain that what He does not
command pleases Him. Nay, we are sure that it does not please Him, for He desires that our
faith be grounded simply and entirely on His divine Word, as He says in Matthew 16:18 , “On
this rock will I build my church”; and in John 10:27 , “My sheep hear my voice and know me;
but the voice of strangers they hear not, but flee from them.” It follows from this that the
secular power forces souls to eternal death with such an outrageous law, for it compels them to
believe as right and certainly pleasing to God what is nevertheless uncertain, nay, what is
certainly displeasing to Him, since there is no clear word of God for it. For whoever believes
that to be right which is wrong or uncertain denies the truth, which is God Himself, and believes
in lies and errors and counts that right which is wrong.
Hence it is the height of folly when they command that one shall believe the Church, the
fathers, the councils, though there be no word of God for it. The devil’s apostles command such
things, not the Church; for the Church commands nothing unless it is sure it is God’s Word, as
St.
Peter says, “If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God.” ( Peter 4:11) It will be a very
long time, however, before they prove that the statements of the councils are God’s Word. Still
more foolish is it when they assert that kings and princes and the mass of men believe thus and
so.
If you please, we are not baptised unto kings, princes, or even unto the mass of men, but unto
Christ and unto God himself; neither are we called kings, princes or common folk, but
Christians. No one shall and can command the soul, unless he can show it the way to heaven;
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but this no man can do, only God. Therefore in matters which concern the salvation of souls
nothing but God’s Word shall be taught and accepted.
Again, consummate fools though they are, they must confess that they have no power over
souls. For no human being can kill a soul or make it alive, conduct it to heaven or hell. And if
they will not believe us in this, Christ indeed will certify strongly enough to it, since He says in
Matthew 10:28 , “Fear not them which kill the body and after that have power to do naught;
but rather fear Him Who after He has killed the body has power to condemn to hell.” I consider
that here it is sufficiently clear that the soul is taken out of all human hands and is placed under
the power of God alone.
Now tell me, how much wit is there in the head of him who imposes commandments where he
has no power at all? Who would not regard one as insane if he commanded the moon to shine
when he desired it? How fitting it would be if the Leipzigers would impose laws on us
Wittenbergers, or again, if we in Wittenberg would lay laws on those in Leipzig. They would
certainly send the law-makers a thank-offering of hellebore to clear the brain and cure the
snuffles. Nevertheless, our emperors and wise princes continue to permit pope, bishops and
sophists to lead them on, one blind man leading the other, to command their subjects to
believe, without God’s Word, whatever they please, and still would be known as Christian
princes. God help us!
Besides, we can understand how any authority shall and may act only where it can see, know,
judge, change and convert. For what kind of judge would he be who should blindly judge
matters which he neither heard nor saw? Tell me, how can a man see, know, judge, condemn
and change hearts? This is reserved for God alone, as Psalm 7:9
says, “God trieth the heart
and reins”; likewise, “The Lord shall judge the people”; ( Psalm 7:8 ) and Acts 15:8 , “God
knoweth the hearts”; and, Jeremiah 17:9 , “Wicked and unsearchable is the human heart; who
can know it? I the Lord, who search the heart and reins.” A court ought and must be quite
certain and clear about everything, if it is to pass sentence.
But the thoughts and intents of the heart can be known to no one but God; therefore it is
useless and impossible to command or compel any one by force to believe one thing or
another. It must be taken hold of in a different way; force cannot accomplish it. And I am
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surprised at the great fools, since they themselves all say, De occultis non judicat ecclesia , —
the Church does not judge secret things. If the spiritual rule of the Church governs only public
matters, how dare the senseless secular power judge and control such a secret, spiritual,
hidden matter as faith?
Furthermore, every man is responsible for his own faith, and he must see to it for himself that
he believes rightly. As little as another can go to hell or heaven for me, so little can he believe
or disbelieve for me; and as little as he can open or shut heaven or hell for me, so little can he
drive me to faith or unbelief. Since, then, belief or unbelief is a matter of every one’s
conscience, and since this is no lessening of the secular power, the latter should be content and
attend to its own affairs and permit men to believe one thing or another, as they are able and
willing, and constrain no one by force. For faith is a free work, to which no one can be forced.
Nay, it is a divine work, done in the Spirit, certainly not a matter which outward authority
should compel or create. Hence arises the well-known saying, found also in Augustine, “No one
can or ought be constrained to believe.”
Besides, the blind, wretched folk do not see how utterly hopeless and impossible a thing they
are attempting. For no matter how much they fret and fume, they cannot do more than make
the people obey them by word and deed; the heart they cannot constrain, though they wear
themselves out trying. For the proverb is true, “Thoughts are free.” Why then would they
constrain people to believe from the heart, when they see that it is impossible? In this way they
compel weak consciences to lie, to deny, and to say what they do not believe in their hearts,
and they load themselves down with dreadful alien sins. For all the lies and false confessions
which such weak consciences utter fall back upon him who compels them.
It were far better, if their subjects erred, simply to let them err, than that they should constrain
them to lie and to say what is not in their hearts; neither is it right to defend evil with what is
worse.
Would you like to know why God ordains that the temporal princes must offend so frightfully? I
will tell you. God has given them over to a perverse mind and will make an end of them, as well
as of the spiritual nobles. ( Romans 1:28 ; Jeremiah 30:11 ; Amos 9:8 ) For my ungracious
lords, the pope and the bishops, should be bishops and preach God’s Word; this they leave
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undone and are become temporal princes, and govern with laws which concern only life and
property. How thoroughly they have turned things upside down! Inwardly they ought to be
ruling souls by God’s Word; hence outwardly they rule castles, cities, land and people and
torture souls with unspeakable outrages. Similarly, the temporal lords should rule land and
people outwardly; this they do not do. All they can do is to flay and scrape, put tax on tax,
tribute on tribute, let loose now a bear, now a wolf. Besides this, there is no justice, fidelity or
truth to be found among them; what they do would be beneath robbers and knaves, and their
temporal rule has sunk quite as low as that of the spiritual tyrants. Hence God also perverts
their minds, that they rush on in their senselessness and would establish a spiritual rule over
souls, as the others would establish a temporal rule, in order that they may contentedly burden
themselves with alien sins, and with God’s and all men’s hate, until they go under with bishops,
priests and monks, one knave with the other. Then they lay all the blame on the Gospel, and
instead of doing penance, blaspheme God and say that our preaching has brought about what
their perverse wickedness has merited and still unceasingly merits, as the Romans did when
they were destroyed. Here then you have God’s decree regarding the high and mighty. But they
are not to believe it, lest this severe decree of God be hindered by their repentance.
You reply, But Paul said in Romans 13:1 , “Every soul shall be subject to power and authority,”
and Peter says, “We should be subject to every ordinance of man.” ( 1 Peter 2:13 ) I answer,
That is just what I want!
These sayings are in my favor. St. Paul speaks of authority and power.
Now, you have just heard that no one but God can have authority over souls. Hence Paul
cannot be speaking of any obedience except where there can be corresponding authority. From
this it follows that he does not speak of faith, and does not say that secular authority should
have the right to command faith, but he is speaking of external goods, and that these are to be
set in order and controlled on earth. This his words also clearly indicate, when he prescribes the
limits to both authority and obedience, and says, “Render to every one his dues, tribute to
whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom; honor to whom honor; fear to whom fear.” (
Romans 13:7 ) You see, temporal obedience and power apply only externally to tribute,
custom, honor and fear. Likewise when he says, “The power is not a terror to good, but to evil
works,” ( Romans 13:4 ) he again limits the power, so that it is to have the mastery not over
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faith or the Word of God, but over evil works.
This is what St. Peter also desires, when he says, “Ordinance of man.” ( 1 Peter 2:13 ) Human
ordinance cannot possibly extend its authority to heaven and over souls, but belongs only to
earth, to the external intercourse of men with each other, where men can see, know, judge,
sentence, punish and acquit. Christ Himself made this nice distinction and summed it all up
briefly when He said, “Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things
that are God’s.” ( Matthew 22:21 ) If, then, imperial power extended to God’s kingdom and
power, and were not something by itself, He would not thus have made it a separate thing. For,
as was said, the soul is not under Caesar’s power; he can neither teach nor guide it, neither kill
it nor make it alive, neither bind it nor loose it, neither judge it nor condemn it, neither hold it
nor release it, which he must do had he power to command it and impose laws upon it; but
over life, goods and honor he indeed has this right, for such things are under his authority.
David, too, stated this long ago in one of his short sayings when he says in <19B516> Psalm
115:16 , “The heavens hath he given to the Lord of heaven; but the earth hath he given to the
children of men.” That is, over what is on earth and belongs to the temporal, earthly kingdom,
man has authority from God, but that which belongs to the heavenly eternal kingdom is entirely
under the heavenly Lord. Nor does Moses forget this when he says in Genesis 1:26 , “God said,
Let us make man to rule over the beasts of the earth, over the fish in the waters, over the birds
in the air.” There only external rule is ascribed to men. And, in short, this is the meaning, as St.
Peter says, Acts 5:29 , “We must obey God rather than men.” Thereby he clearly sets a limit to
worldly government, for if we had to do all that worldly government demands it would be to no
purpose to say, “We must obey God rather than men.”
If then your prince or temporal lord commands you to hold with the pope, to believe this or
that, or commands you to give up certain books, you should say, It does not befit Lucifer to sit
by the side of God. Dear Lord, I owe you obedience with life and goods; command me within
the limits of your power on earth, and I will obey. But if you command me to believe, and to put
away books, I will not obey; for in this case you are a tyrant and overreach yourself, and
command where you have neither right nor power, etc. Should he take your property for this,
and punish such disobedience, blessed are you. Thank God that you are worthy to suffer for the
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sake of the divine Word, and let him rave, fool that he is. ( 1 Peter 4:14 ,16 ) ( Acts 5:41 ) He
will meet his judge. For I tell you, if you do not resist him but give him his way, and let him take
your faith or your books, you have really denied God.
Let me illustrate. In Meissen, Bavaria, in the Mark, and other places, the tyrants have issued an
order that the New Testaments be delivered to the courts everywhere. In this case their
subjects ought not deliver a page or a letter, at risk of their salvation. For whoever does so,
delivers Christ into Herod’s hands, since they act as murderers of Christ, like Herod. But if their
houses are ordered searched and books or goods taken by force, they should suffer it to be
done. Outrage is not to be resisted, but endured, yet they should not sanction it, nor serve or
obey or follow by moving foot or finger. For such tyrants act as worldly princes should act, —
“worldly” princes they are; but the world is God’s enemy. Therefore they must also do what is
opposed to God, and in accord with the world, that they may by no means lose all honor, but
remain worldly princes. Hence do not wonder that they rage and mock at the Gospel; they must
live up to their name and title.
You must know that from the beginning of the world a wise prince is a rare bird indeed; still
more so a pious prince. They are usually the greatest fools or the worst knaves on earth;
therefore one must constantly expect the worst from them and look for little good from them,
especially in divine matters, which concern the salvation of souls. They are God’s jailers and
hangmen, and His divine wrath needs them to punish the wicked and preserve outward peace.
Our God is a great Lord, and therefore must have such noble, honorable and rich hangmen and
beadles, and desires that they shall have riches, honor and fear, in full and plenty, from every
one. It pleases His divine will that we call His hangmen gracious lords, fall at their feet and be
subject to them in all humility, so long as they do not ply their trade too far and desire to
become shepherds instead of hangmen. If a prince becomes wise, pious or a Christian, it is one
of the great wonders, and one of the most precious tokens of divine grace upon that land. For
the usual course is according to the saying in Isaiah 3:4 , “I will give children to be their princes
and babes shall rule over them,” and in Hosea 13:11 , “I will give thee a king in my anger and
take him away in my wrath.” The world is too wicked, and does not deserve to have many wise
and pious princes. Frogs need storks. f374 Again you say, Temporal power does not force men
to believe, but simply prevents them from being misled by false doctrine; otherwise how could
heretics be prevented from preaching? I answer, This the bishops should do, to whom, and not
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to the princes, such duty is entrusted. Heresy can never be prevented by force. That must be
taken hold of in a different way, and must be opposed and dealt with otherwise than with the
sword. Here God’s Word must strive; if that does not accomplish the end it will remain
unaccomplished through secular power, though it fill the world with blood.
Heresy is a spiritual matter, which no iron can strike, no fire burn, no water drown. God’s Word
alone avails here, as Paul says, 2 Corinthians 10:4 , “Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty
through God to destroy every counsel and high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Moreover, faith and heresy are never so strong as when men oppose them by sheer force,
without God’s Word. For men count it certain that such force is for a wrong cause and is
directed against the right, since it proceeds without God’s Word, and does not know how to
further its cause except by force, just as the brute beasts do. For even in secular affairs force
can be used only after the wrong has been legally condemned. How much less possible is it to
act with force, without justice and God’s Word, in these high, spiritual matters! See, therefore,
what fine, shrewd nobles they are. They would drive out heresy, and set about it in such a way
that they only strengthen the opposition, make themselves suspected, and justify the heretics.
Friend, would you drive out heresy, then you must find a plan to tear it first of all from the
heart and altogether to turn men’s wills away from it; force will not accomplish this, but only
strengthen the heresy.
What avails it to strengthen heresy in the heart and to weaken only its outward expression, and
to force the tongue to lie? God’s Word, however, enlightens the hearts; and so all heresies and
errors perish of themselves from the heart.
Such overpowering of heresy the prophet Isaiah proclaimed in his eleventh chapter when he
said, “He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and slay the wicked with the breath of
His lips.” ( Isaiah 11:4 ) You see, if the wicked is to be smitten and converted, it is accomplished
by the mouth. In short, such princes and tyrants do not know that to fight against heresy is to
fight against the devil, who fills men’s hearts with error, as Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 , “We
fight not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual wickedness, with the rulers of the darkness of
this world.”
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Therefore, as long as the devil is not repelled and driven from the heart, it matters as little to
him that I destroy his vessels with fire or sword, as it would if I fought lightning with a straw.
Job bore abundant witness to this, when in his forty-first chapter he said that the devil
esteemeth iron as straw and fears no power on earth. ( Job 41:27 ) We learn it also from
experience, for although all the Jews and heretics were burned, yet no one has been or will be
convinced and converted thereby.
Nevertheless such a world as this deserves such princes, none of whom do their duty. The
bishops are to leave the Word of God alone and not rule souls by it, but command the worldly
princes to rule them with the sword.
The worldly princes, in their turn, are to permit usury, theft, adultery, murder, and other evil
works, and themselves do them; and then allow the bishops to punish with the ban. Thus they
turn things topsy-turvy, and rule souls with iron and the body with bans, so that worldly princes
rule in a spiritual, and spiritual princes in a worldly way. What else does the devil have to do on
earth than thus to play the fool and hold carnival with his folk? These are our Christian princes,
who defend the faith and devour the Turk. Fine fellows, to be sure, whom we may well trust to
accomplish something by such refined wisdom, namely, break their necks and plunge land and
people into suffering and want.
I would, however, in all fidelity advise the blinded folk to take heed to the short saying in Psalm
cvii, “Effundit contemptum super principes.” f375 ( <19A740> Psalm 107:40 ) I swear unto you
by God that, if through your fault this little text becomes effective against you, you are lost,
though every one of you be as mighty as the Turk; and your snorting and raving will help you
nothing. A large part has already come true. For there are very few princes that are not
reckoned fools or knaves. That is because they show themselves to be such; the common man
is learning to think, and the prince’s scourge, which God calls contemptum, is gathering force
among the mob and with the common man. I fear there is no way to stop it, unless the princes
conduct themselves in a princely manner and begin again to rule reasonably and thoroughly.
Men ought not, men cannot, men will not suffer your tyranny and presumption much longer.
Dear princes and lords, be wise and guide yourselves accordingly. God will no longer tolerate it.
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The world is no longer what it was when you hunted and drove the people like so much game.
Therefore drop your outrage and force, and remember to deal justly and let God’s Word have
its course, as it will and must and shall, nor will you prevent it. If there is heresy abroad, let it be
overcome, as is proper, with God’s Word. But if you will keep on brandishing the sword, take
heed lest there come one who shall bid you sheath it, and that not in God’s name.
But should you ask, Since there is to be no secular sword among Christians, how are they to be
ruled outwardly? There certainly must be authority also among Christians. I answer, Among
Christians there shall and can be no authority; but all are alike subject to one another, as Paul
says in Romans 12:10 , “Each shall count the other his superior,” and Peter in 1 Peter 5:5 , “All
of you be subject one to another.” This is also what Christ means in Luke 14:10 , “When you
are bidden to a wedding sit down in the lowest room.” There is no superior among Christians,
but Christ Himself and Christ alone. And what kind of authority can there be where all are equal
and have the same right, power, possession, and honor, and no one desires to be the other’s
superior, but each the other’s inferior?
One could not establish authority where there are such people, even if one would, since their
character and nature will not permit them to have superiors, for no one is willing or able to be
the superior. But where there are no such people, there are no real Christians.
What, then, are the priests and bishops? (Priests and Bishops, Servants) I answer, Their
government is not one of authority or power, but a service and an office; for they are neither
higher nor better than other Christians.
Therefore they should not impose any law or decree on others without their will and consent;
their rule consists in nothing else than in dealing with God’s Word, leading Christians by it and
overcoming heresy by its means. For, as was said, Christians can be ruled by nothing but by
God’s Word. For Christians must be ruled in faith, not by outward works. Faith, however, can
come through no word of man, but only through the Word of God, as Paul says in Romans 10:17
, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Those who do not believe are
not Christians, do not belong to Christ’s kingdom, but to the worldly kingdom, and are
constrained and ruled by the sword and by outward rule. Christians do of themselves, without
constraint, every good thing, and find God’s Word alone sufficient for them. Of this, however, I
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have written frequently and at length elsewhere. f376 PART THREE Now that we know the
limits of secular authority, it is time also to inquire how a prince should use it; for the sake of
those who fain would be Christian princes and lords, and desire to enter the life beyond, of
whom there are very few. For Christ Himself describes the nature of temporal princes in Luke
22:25 , when he says, “The worldly princes exercise lordship, and they that are chief exercise
authority.” For if they are born princes or chosen to office, they think only that it is their right to
be served and to rule with power. He who would be a Christian prince certainly must lay aside
the intention to rule and to use force. For cursed and condemned is every kind of life lived and
sought for selfish profit and good; cursed are all works not done in love. But they are done in
love when they are directed with all one’s heart, not toward selfish pleasure, profit, honor, ease
and salvation, but toward the profit, honor and salvation of others.
I will say nothing here of secular affairs and of the laws of government, for that is a large
subject and there are too many law-books already; although, if a prince himself is not wiser
than his jurists, and does not know more than is in the law-books, he will surely rule according
to the saying in Proverbs 28:16 , “A prince that wanteth understanding will oppress many with
injustice.” No matter how good and equitable the laws are, they all make exceptions of cases of
necessity, in which they cannot be enforced. Therefore a prince must have the law in hand as
firmly as the sword, and decide in his own mind when and where the law must be applied
strictly or with moderation, so that reason may always control all law and be the highest law
and rule over all laws. A housefather who, although he appoints a definite time and mount of
work and food for his servants and children, must yet reserve the power to change or omit such
regulations if his servants happen to be sick, imprisoned, detained, deceived, or otherwise
hindered, and not deal as severely with the sick as with the well. I say this in order that men
may not think it sufficient and an excellent thing if they follow the written law or the legal
advisers; more than that is required.
What should a prince do, if he is not sufficiently wise, and must follow the directions of jurists
and law books? I answer, For this reason I said that the position of a prince is a perilous one,
and if he is not wise enough to master both the law and his advisers, the saying of Solomon is
fulfilled, “Woe to the land whose king is a child.” (Eccl. 10:16 ) Solomon recognized this;
therefore he despaired of all law, even of that which Moses, through God, had prescribed for
him and of all his princes and counselors, and turned to God Himself and prayed to Him for a
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wise heart to rule the people. A prince must follow this example and proceed with fear; he
must depend neither upon dead books nor upon living heads, but cling solely to God, pray
without ceasing to Him, and ask for a fight understanding, above all books and masters, wisely
to rule his subjects. ( 1 Kings 3:9 ) Therefore I know of no law to prescribe for a prince, but will
simply instruct him what the attitude of his heart and mind ought to be with respect to all laws,
counsels, decisions and actions, so that if he govern himself thereby God will surely grant him
the power to carry out all laws, counsels, and actions in a proper and godly way.
I. He must consider his subjects and rightly dispose his heart toward them in this matter. He
does this if he applies his whole mind to making himself useful and serviceable to them, and
does not think, “Land and people are mine; I will do as I please”; but thus, “I belong to land and
people; I must do what is profitable and good for them. My concern must be, not how I may
rule and be haughty, but how they may be protected and defended by a good peace.” And he
should picture Christ to himself, and say, “Behold, Christ the chief Ruler came and served me,
sought not to have power, profit and honor from me, but only considered my need, and did all
He could that I might have power, profit and honor from Him and through Him. I will do the
same, not seek mine own advantage in my subjects, but their advantage, and thus serve them
by my office, protect them, give them audience and support, that they, and not I, may have the
benefit and profit by it.” Thus a prince should in his heart empty himself of his power and
authority, and interest himself in the need of his subjects, dealing with it as though it were his
own need. Thus Christ did unto us; and these are the proper works of Christian love.
You say, Who then would be a prince? For that would make the position of a prince the worst
on earth, full of trouble, labor and sorrow. Where would there be room for the princely
pleasures, such as dancing, hunting, racing, gaming, and similar worldly enjoyments? I answer,
We are not prescribing now how a temporal prince shall live, but how a temporal prince shall
be a Christian, in order that he also may reach heaven. Who does not know that a prince is a
rare bird in heaven? I do not speak because I have any hope that princes will give heed, but
because there might possibly be one of them who would fain be a Christian and would like to
know what he ought to do. For I am sure that God’s Word will neither turn nor bend to princes;
but the princes must bend themselves according to it. It is enough for me to point out that it is
not impossible for a prince to be a Christian, though it is a rare thing and surrounded with
difficulties. If they would so manage that their dancing, hunting and racing were done without
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injury to their subjects, and if they would otherwise conduct their office in love toward them,
God would not be so hard as to begrudge them their dancing, hunting and racing. But it would
follow of itself that, if they served and cared for their subjects as their office requires, full many
a fine dance, hunt, race and game would have to be abandoned.
II. He must beware of the high and mighty and of his counselors, and so conduct himself toward
them that he despise none, and trust none enough to leave everything to him. (Counselors not
to be Trusted) For God cannot tolerate either. He once spake by an ass; ( Numbers 22:28 )
therefore no man is to be despised, no matter how humble he be. On the other hand, He
permitted the highest angel to fall from heaven; ( Revelation 12:9 ) therefore no man is to be
trusted, no matter how wise, holy and great he is, but one must give a hearing to all and wait to
see through which one of them God will speak and act. For the greatest harm done at court is
when a prince enslaves his mind to the high and mighty and to the flatterers, and does not look
into things himself; since, when a prince fails and plays the fool, not only one person is affected,
but land and people must bear the result of such foolishness. Therefore a prince should bestow
only so much trust and power upon his rulers that he will still keep the reins of government in
his own hand. He must keep his eyes open and give attention, and, like Jehoshaphat, ride
through the land and observe everywhere how the government and the law is administered. (
Chronicles 19:4 ff.) In this way he will learn for himself that one must not implicitly trust any
man. For you have no right to think that another will interest himself in you and in your land so
deeply as you yourself, unless he be filled with the Spirit and be a good Christian. The natural
man does not do it. Since, however, you do not know whether he is a Christian or how long he
will remain one, you cannot safely depend on him.
Beware especially of those who say, “Gracious lord, why does your grace not trust me more?
Who is so willing to serve your grace,” etc.? Such an one is certainly not guileless, but desires to
be lord in the country and make a jackanapes of you. If he were a true and pious Christian he
would be quite willing that you should entrust him with nothing, and would praise you for
keeping so careful a watch on him; for he acts in accordance with God’s will and therefore he is
willing, and can bear it, to have his acts brought to the light by you or any one else, as Christ
says in John 3:21 , “He that doeth well cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, for they are wrought in God.” The former, however, would blind your eyes, and act
under cover of darkness, as Christ also says in the same place, “Every one that doeth evil hateth
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the light, lest his deeds should be punished.” ( John 3:20 ) Therefore, beware of him. And if he
complain of it, say, “Friend, I do thee no wrong; God is not willing that I trust myself or any
other man; find fault with Him, then, because He will have it so, or that He has not made you
more than human; although, even if you were an angel, since Lucifer indeed was not to be
trusted, I would not trust you completely, for we should trust God alone.”
Let no prince think that he shall fare better than David, who is an example to all princes. He had
so wise a counselor, named Ahithophel, that the text says, “The counsel which Ahithophel
counseled availed as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God.” ( 2 Samuel 16:28 )
Nevertheless he fell, and sank so low that he sought to betray, kill and destroy David his own
lord. Then David had to learn that no man is to be trusted. ( 2 Samuel 17:1 ff .) Why do you
suppose God permitted such a horrible example to occur, and to be recorded, if not in order to
warn the princes and lords against the most perilous misfortune that may befall them, so that
they might trust no one. For it is most deplorable when flatterers reign at court, or when the
prince depends on others, puts himself in their hands, and lets every one do as he will.
You say, perchance, If no one is to be trusted, how will one rule land and people? I answer, You
should entrust and take the venture, but you should not trust and depend save on God alone.
You must certainly entrust the offices to some one and take a chance with him; but you should
not trust him otherwise than as one who may fail you and whom you must watch with unfailing
vigilance; as a driver has confidence in the horses and wagon he drives, yet does not let them
go their own way, but holds reins and lash in his hand and does not sleep. Remember the old
proverbs, which are the sure fruits of experience: “A careful master makes a good horse,” and
“The master’s footsteps make a fruitful field,” — that is, if the master does not look after things
himself, but depends upon counselors and servants, things never go fight. God also will have it
so, and causes it to happen, in order that the lords may be driven of necessity to fulfill their
office themselves, as everyone must fulfill his calling and every creature do its work; otherwise
the lords will become fatted pigs and a worthless lot, of no profit to any one but themselves.
III. He must take heed that he deal justly with evil doers. Here he must be very wise and
prudent to mete out punishment without injuring others. I know no better example of this than
David again. He had a captain, Joab by name, who played two wicked pranks in that he
treacherously murdered two loyal captains, whereby he justly merited death twice over; yet
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David did not put him to death during his lifetime, but commanded his son Solomon without fail
to do so, because he could not punish him without great injury and disturbance. ( 2 Samuel 3:27
; 20:10 ) A prince must punish the wicked in such a way that he does not step on the dish
while picking up the spoon, and for the sake of one man’s head plunge land and people into
want and fill the land with widows and orphans. ( 1 Kings 2:5 f .) Therefore he must not obey
the counselors and fire-eaters who incite and provoke him to begin war and say, “What, must
we suffer such insults and injustice?” He is a poor Christian indeed who for the sake of a single
castle would make an armed camp of the whole land. In brief, here one must hold by the
proverb, “He cannot rule who cannot wink at faults.”
Let this, therefore, be his rule: Where wrong cannot be punished without greater wrong, there
let him waive his rights, however just. He must not regard his own injury, but the wrong which
others must suffer as a consequence of the penalty he imposes. For what have the many
women and children done that they should be made widows and orphans in order that you may
avenge yourself on an idle tongue or a wicked hand which has injured you?
You ask, But shall not a prince go to war, nor his subjects follow him into battle? I answer, That
is a far-reaching question, but let me answer it very briefly. To act here as a Christian, I say, a
prince should not wage war against his overlord — the king, emperor or other liege — but
should let him who takes take. For one must not resist the government with force, but only
with knowledge of the truth; if it is influenced by it, well; if not, you are innocent, and suffer
wrong for God’s sake. But if your opponent is your equal, your inferior, or of a foreign
government, you should first offer him justice and peace, as Moses taught the children of Israel.
If he is unwilling, then use your best strategy and defend yourself by force against force, as
Moses well describes it all in Deuteronomy 20:10 . In doing this you must not consider your own
interests and how you may remain lord, but your subjects, to whom you owe help and
protection, that all may be done in love. For, since your entire land is in peril, you must make
the venture, so that with God’s help all may not be lost; and if you cannot prevent some from
becoming widows and orphans, as a consequence of this, you must nevertheless prevent it that
all go to ruin and there be nothing left but widows and orphans.
In this matter subjects are in duty bound to follow and risk life and property for the cause. For
in such a case one must risk his property and himself for the sake of the other. And in such a
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war it is a Christian act and an act of love confidently to kill, rob, and pillage the enemy, and to
do everything that can injure him until one has conquered him according to the methods of
war. Only, one must beware of sin, not violate wives and virgins, and when victory comes, offer
mercy and peace to those who surrender and humble themselves. Therefore in such a case let
the saying hold true, “God helps those who help themselves.” So Abraham did when he smote
the four kings, as Genesis 14:14
tells us, when he certainly caused great slaughter and showed
little mercy until he conquered them.
Such happenings must be considered as sent of God, that He may now and then cleanse the
land and drive out the knaves.
But when a prince is in the wrong, are his people bound to follow him then too? I answer, No,
for it is no one’s duty to do wrong; we ought to obey God Who desires the right, rather than
men. ( Acts 5:29 ) How is it, when the subjects do not know whether the prince is in the right
or not? I answer, As long as they cannot know, nor find out by any possible means, they may
obey without peril to their souls. For in such a case one must apply the law of Moses, when he
writes in Exodus 21:13 , that a murderer who has unknowingly and involuntarily killed a man
shall be delivered by fleeing to a city of refuge and by the judgment of the congregation. (
Numbers 35:12 ) For whichever side is defeated, whether it be in the right or in the wrong,
must accept it as a punishment from God; but whichever side wars and wins, in such ignorance,
must regard their battle as though one fell from the roof and killed another, and leave the
matter to God. For it is the same to God whether He deprives you of goods and life by a just
lord or by an unjust. You are His creature, and He can do with you as He will — if only your
conscience is clear. God Himself thus excuses Abimelech in Genesis 20:6 , when he took
Abraham’s wife, not because he had done right, but because he had not known that she was
Abraham’s wife.
IV. We come to what really should be foremost, and of which we spoke above. A prince must
act also in a Christian way toward his God, that is, he must subject himself to Him in entire
confidence and pray for wisdom to rule well, as Solomon did. ( 1 Kings 3:9 ) But of faith and
trust in God I have written so much elsewhere that it is not necessary to say more here.
Therefore we will close by saying briefly that a prince’s duty is fourfold:
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First, that toward God consists in true confidence and in sincere prayer; second, that toward his
subjects consists in love and Christian service; third, that toward his counselors and rulers
consists in an open mind and unfettered judgment; fourth, that toward evil doers consists in
proper zeal and firmness. Then his state is right, outwardly and inwardly, pleasing to God and to
the people. But he must expect much envy and sorrow, — the cross will soon rest on the
shoulders of such a ruler.
Finally, in addition, I must make answer to those who dispute about restitution, that is, about
the returning of goods unlawfully acquired. This is a common task of the temporal sword, and
much has been written concerning it, and there has been much hairsplitting in the discussion of
it. I will put it all in a few words, and dispose at one and the same time of all these laws and the
quibbles that follow. No more definite law can be found on this subject than the law of love. In
the first place, when such a case is brought before you, in which one is to make restitution to
another, the matter is soon settled if they are both Christians; for neither will withhold what
belongs to the other, nor will either of them demand that it be returned. If only one is a
Christian, namely, the one to whom restitution is to be made, it is again easy to settle, for he
does not care whether it never be returned. The same is true if the one who is to make
restitution is a Christian; he will do so. But whether one is a Christian or not a Christian, you
must decide the restitution as follows. If the debtor is poor and unable to make restitution, and
the other party is not poor, then you should let the law of love prevail and acquit the debtor.
For, according to the law of love, the other party, too, owes it to him to relinquish the debt, and
if necessary to give him something besides. But if the debtor is not poor, then let him restore as
much as he can, all, half, a third, or a fourth of it, provided that you leave him enough to assure
a house, food and clothing for himself, his wife and children; for this you would owe him if you
could give it, much less ought you to take it away now, since you do not need it and he cannot
do without it.
But if neither is a Christian, or if either is unwilling to be judged by the law of love, you may ask
them to call in another judge, and announce to them that they are acting against God and the
law of nature, even though they may obtain absolute justice through human law. For nature,
like love, teaches that I should do as I would be done by. ( Matthew 7:12 ) Therefore I cannot
strip any one else, even if I have the very best right to do so, if I myself am not willing to be
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stripped of my goods, but as I would that another should relinquish his fight to me in such an
instance, even so should I also relinquish my rights. Thus one should deal with all property
unlawfully held, whether in public or private, that love and the law of nature may always
prevail. For when you judge according to love, you will easily decide and adjust matters without
any law-books. But when you ignore love and natural law, you will never succeed in pleasing
God, though you have devoured all the law-books and jurists; they will only cause you to err,
the more you depend on them. A good and just decision must not and cannot be given out of
books, but must come from a free mind, as though there were not a single book. Such a free
decision, however, is given by love and by the law of nature, of which the reason is full; but out
of the books come rigid and vague judgments. Of this I will give you an example.
An incident of this sort is told of Duke Charles of Burgundy. A certain nobleman took an enemy
prisoner, whereupon the prisoner’s wife came to redeem her husband. The nobleman promised
to give her back her husband provided she would lie with him. The woman was virtuous, yet
desired to set her husband free; so she goes and asks her husband whether she shall do this
thing in order to set him free. The husband desired to be set free and to save his life, and gives
his wife permission. After the nobleman had lain with the wife, he had the husband beheaded
the next day and gave him to her a corpse. She laid the whole case before Duke Charles, who
summoned the nobleman and commanded him to marry the woman. When the wedding day
was over, he had the man beheaded, put the woman in possession of his property, and raised
her again to honor. Thus he punished the crime in a princely way.
You see, such a decision no pope, nor jurist, and no law-book could have given him; but it
sprang from untrammeled reason, above the law in the books, and is so excellent that every
one must approve of it and find the justice of it written in his own heart. St. Augustine in his
Sermon of the Lord on the Mount writes in the same fashion. Therefore we should keep written
laws subject to reason, whence indeed they have welled as from the spring of justice, and not
make the spring dependent on its rivulets, nor take reason captive to the letter.
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